JPH02135185A - Article coding separation system, egg light -transmitting inspection device, article coding separating method and method of confirming defective egg in egg light-transmitting inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To exactly code for moving articles by selecting the articles while the articles are transported through an inspection area, swiveling an indicating means toward the positions of the articles and generating a signal reacting with the angular position formed by the indication means. CONSTITUTION: The plural articles 11 are transported through the detection area by a transporting means 12. The slender instruction means 13 has a top end swivelably mounted at supporting means 23, 26, 28 in such a manner that the top end can swivel at least in two directions above the transporting means within the selected range of the inspection area. Further, the means 13 is provided with a means for separating the separated articles from the other articles according to their coding. The indication means 13 is provided with means 32, 33 for generating at least one signal in reaction with the swiveling motion of the indication means 13 for checking the position of the articles when the articles to be selected on the transporting means 12 are engaged by the indication means 13. Consequently, the exact coding for the moving articles is mode possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a coding separation system for articles, and in particular to a system suitable for egg candling. The inventive system disclosed herein takes the form of an improved egg transillumination device suitable for identifying defects such as blood spots, white spots, dirt stains, cracks in egg shells, etc. during the egg selection process. It can also be used to divert other items on a moving conveyor at one point downstream.

2. Description of the Related Art Systems for classifying articles and separating defective articles from a large quantity of articles conveyed on a conveyor are already known. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,291, "Classification Apparatus," which is an apparatus intended to sort undesirable objects such as stones from harvested potatoes.

The patented device provides a matrix or set of orthogonal coils for receiving electrical signals sent from a selector member. The orthogonal coils are arranged to define an array of positions and are arranged in a matrix below the conveyor carrying the potatoes to be processed. The selector member (wand) is
It is provided for manual operation by an operator whose job it is to visually inspect the material on the conveyor. - The selector member is rod-shaped, configured to be held in the hand of an operator, and includes a piezoelectric transducer that emits a burst of high frequency electromagnetic signals. The selector member or wand is activated when the operator contacts an object selected for exclusion.

The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,291 is
Especially those that involve a large number of parts in the formation of the matrix of coils used therein. Furthermore, this system only identifies the location of items, but does not have the ability to determine specific physical properties of items that are considered undesirable or defective.

Additionally, the patent points out that it is also suitable for use in translucent inspection of eggs, in which the coils form a grid therein to provide at least the necessary illumination of the translucent area. It is almost certain that the interference will occur to the extent that it will cause damage. Generally speaking, an egg transillumination device consists of a movable conveyor containing a plurality of streak bars arranged in an array and spaced apart from each other, which conveys the eggs into a high-intensity light source. This allows visual detection of various defects such as blood spots, white spots, dirt stains, and cracks in the eggshell. Such a translucent egg inspection device may be used alone or in combination with a sorter that sorts and sorts rabbits based on their physical characteristics, including weight.

In the egg fluoroscopic inspection apparatus described above, there is a limit to the operating speed of the machine, which in turn imposes a limit on the maximum operating speed of the entire automated egg processing system. In order to increase the efficiency of egg processing systems, the rate at which defective eggs can be inspected and identified by a transillumination device must be increased. For this purpose, a translucent inspection device is required that is high speed, has a short time span, and is capable of identifying defective eggs with high precision. Detecting defective eggs is of the utmost importance because if overlooked, eggs that do not meet government standards will be packaged.

Therefore, the transillumination inspection function is slow enough to allow accurate and complete defect detection as the eggs are transported through the transillumination machine, yet does not limit the maximum operating speed of the processing system used with the transilluminator. must be executed at a relatively high speed. Because of this, there is an unavoidable need to improve the performance of the egg transmission inspection device.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable articles on a moving conveyor to be accurately and easily encoded and diverted to one point downstream, while being highly efficient and effectively facilitating the sorting of articles during processing. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved coded sorting system for articles that can be operated at high speeds.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved article coding system capable of inspecting articles conveyed through the system over a wide area on a moving conveyor and coding the presence of articles to be separated. The objective is to provide a sorting system.

Yet another object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of known transillumination devices as mentioned above and to overcome the disadvantages of known transillumination devices such as those mentioned above and to provide continuous transport through the transillumination device when used in conjunction with an egg sorting device. The location and one or more physical properties of defective eggs that are randomly distributed among multiple eggs can be precisely and easily identified, allowing eggs with the same defect to be separated from the eggs in the sorting equipment. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved egg transmission inspection device that enables separate packaging at the same location.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved egg translucency inspection system that can randomly identify the location and one or more physical characteristics of defective eggs at any location on an egg translucency inspection conveyor and in any order. The purpose is to provide inspection equipment.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention provide a means for conveying a plurality of articles through an inspection area, a support means disposed above the inspection area, and a conveyance within a selected area of the inspection area. an elongate indicating means having an upper end pivotably mounted on said support means for pivoting movement in at least two directions over the means; This is accomplished in an item coding sorting system for operator coding of items. One of the directions of movement of said indicating means is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveying means, and the other direction is perpendicular thereto.

The indicating means has a lower vertical end disposed adjacent to the conveying means, and axial movement along its longitudinal axis causes the lower vertical end of the indicating means to be within a selected extent of the inspection area. It is possible to enter into a state of engagement with selected items passing through and exit from the trap. The indicating means is further coupled thereto and configured to generate at least one first signal to confirm the location of a selected article on the vehicle when the article is engaged by the indicating means. It includes means responsive to the pivoting movement of the indicating means and means for separating the selected article from the remaining articles according to its encoding.

The object of the invention as described above is to provide a method for transporting a number of articles spaced apart from each other on a conveying means throughout an inspection area and for the articles to be coded while being conveyed through the inspection area. a bulk article comprising the steps of: selecting; and pivoting the indicating means towards the location of the articles to be coded to generate at least one first signal responsive to the angular position of the indicating means with respect to the conveying means. It is also accomplished in a method of encoding and separating selected items that are conveyed through an inspection area.

The article to be encoded is contacted by the pivoting pointing means to ascertain the position of the article to be encoded and the encoded article is separated from the rest of the articles.

The present invention comprises such and as described above.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a system for translucent inspection of eggs, designated generally by the numeral 10, is designated by the symbols "Egg Processing System", No. 394161, "Non-Operative System",
It is used in conjunction with the egg sorting device disclosed in detail in ``Egg Transfer System'' in the same No. 394443. The disclosures of said co-pending applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

In the translucent inspection device, an egg collection 11 in which eggs with defects such as blood spots, white spots, filth stains, and cracks in the eggshell are randomly scattered is processed by the egg sorting device.
A spool bar conveyor containing a plurality of spool bars 12 is continuously conveyed over a high-intensity light source (see Figure 2), and an operator standing adjacent to the conveyor visually detects defective eggs such as those described above. making it possible to discover. The movable spool bar 12 consists of a plurality of concave cylinders supinatably mounted on mutually spaced parallel axes driven in conveyor fashion at their ends by parallel chain conduction, between which the eggs are placed. is placed, egg 1
1 are transported in spaced alignments, i.e., in columns and rows, through a transillumination inspection device over the high-intensity light source of the system. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the eggs are passed through a transillumination device in six parallel longitudinal rows, and the spool bar and the eggs are positioned below the eggs to allow visual detection of defective eggs. The button passes over a high-intensity light source used to emit light.

An elongated indicating means or rod 13 is connected to the spool bar 1.
2 and pivotably mounted at its upper end to substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 16 of the spool bar conveyor over a selected area or plane of the transillumination inspection system on the spool bar 12. and in mutually perpendicular directions perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 16 (indicated by arrows 14 and 15), ie in a direction substantially parallel to the columns and rows of eggs 11 on the spool bar 12.

The vertically lower end 17 of the indicating means 13 is arranged adjacent to the spool bar 12 and is movable axially on its longitudinal axis 18, so that the lower end 17 of the indicating means 13 and located on the spool bar 12 within a selected area of the movable translucent device, as described in more detail in ``Egg Processing System'', No. 394161, ``Non-Operating System''. , the defective eggs identified by the system operator are passed through a translucent inspection device 10 to a weighing device 19 and then transported using a non-moving system 21 to a plurality of packaging devices 22 where the eggs are detected. They are classified according to their physical properties, including the type of defects caused.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2 and 3. The indicating means 13 is pivotably mounted on a frame 23, said frame being mounted above the spools 12 within a selected area of the transillumination device over which the indicating means 13 can move. It is attached to a certain longitudinal support beam 24. frame 23
A first shaft 25, which may be fixed or movable, is rotatably mounted within the frame 23 and is disposed perpendicular to the spool bar conveyor longitudinal axis 16.
Contains. Another frame 26 is fixedly mounted on shaft 25 for pivoting about the longitudinal axis of shaft 25 and includes a second shaft 27. This shaft 27 is connected to the pointing rod 113 by a rectangular frame member 28 fixedly attached to the shaft 27. The shaft 27 is rotatably mounted to the frame 26 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spool bar conveyor. Frame member 28 has an opening with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of indicator rod 13, through which indicator rod 13 is passed. The indicating means 13 has a flange 30 arranged at its vertical upper end, which flange';
7 langes 30 for movably supporting the indicating means 13 in the frame 28 and the frames 23 and 26.
and the frame 28, which engages one end of a coil spring 31 disposed on the indicating means between the frame 28 and the frame 28. Such an arrangement allows the indicating means 13 to move in mutually perpendicular directions 14, 15 parallel and intersecting with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spool bar conveyor.
The axis 1 of the indicating means 13 is not only movable in the
Egg 1 on spool bar 12 by moving vertically along 8
It is possible to enter into a contract state with 1 and come out again from now on.

Next, reference is made to FIGS. 4 to 7. The indicating means 13 indicates that the spool bar 12 is within the selected area of the transillumination inspection device.
and means for emitting at least one signal to confirm the position of the egg when the indicating means engages the shell of the defective egg. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this signal generating means is provided in frame 23.2.
potentiometer 32.3 connected by a plurality of meshing gears 34.35 to a shaft 25.27 mounted on
Consists of 3. The potentiometer 32 is attached to the frame 2 along with the gear 34.
3, and the potentiometer 33 is fixed to the frame 26 together with the gear 35.

As shown in the enlarged details of FIGS.
A switch generally indicated by the numeral 36 is located within the switch. The switch consists of a cylinder 37 slidably disposed within the lower end of the indicating means 13, which cylinder 37 extends from a transparent opening 39 on the spool bar 12 in the lower end of the indicating means. It has an extension 38 for engaging an eggshell located within a selected area of the optical inspection device. An air pressure source (not shown) is connected by means of a tubular conduit 40 to an air switch 41 and an indicating means 1.
It is connected to the internal space of 3.

Another opening 42 is provided in the lower end side wall adjacent to the cylinder 37 at the vertical lower end of the indicating means 13 so that when the cylinder 37 is in its lowest position within the indicating means 13 the opening 42 is It is opened to allow air supplied through conduit 40 to escape therefrom. When the extension 38 of the cylinder 37 is pushed upward inside the indicating means 13 engaged with the egg, the opening 4
2 is closed by the cylinder 37 and air cannot escape therefrom, so that the air pressure inside the indicating means 13 rises and triggers the air switch 41.

The indicating means 13 further includes:
Means is included for generating a second signal substantially simultaneously with generation of the first signal. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this signal generating device includes a hand-operated pneumatic switch 4.
3 and 44, the air switch 43.44
is connected at one end to the pneumatic supply device by a tubular conduit 45.46 and at the other end to an additional opening 47.48 provided in the lower end of the indicating device 13. Conduits 45,46 are connected to the indicating means 13 as shown in FIGS.
and are connected directly to openings 47 and 48, respectively, for direct communication with the atmosphere. These openings 47, 48 are located directly above opening 42 and can be closed by placing a finger over the openings.

In operation, the eggs 11 are carried on the spool bar 12 below the indicating means 13 and above the translucent inspection device 10 . While the eggs are being conveyed through a selected area of the transillumination device over which the indicating means 13 can be moved, the eggs are removed by the operator from blood spots, white spots, dirt stains, etc.
Eggshells are visually inspected for defects such as cracks. When a defective egg is found by the operator, the indicating device 13
The lower end is first swiveled to a position above the defective egg, and then the defective egg is moved downwards K along the vertical axis of the lot F, and the defective egg is placed in the cylinder 3.
7 towards the egg until it is engaged by the extension 38 of 7. At the same time, the operator presses one or both of the openings 47 and 48 with his finger, or alternatively leaves both openings open. As can be easily seen, when the operator presses the opening with one finger, one of the openings 47, 48 is closed (see FIG. 7).

Optionally, both openings can also be closed or left open by the operator, thus providing four different combinations for differentiating between different defect types. It is.

When the indicating means 13 is moved downward and the extension 38 of the cylinder 37 engages the defective egg, the opening 42 is closed and the air pressurized into the indicating means 13 escapes therefrom. I won't be able to do it.

Air pressure thus increases in the indicating means 13 and the conduit 40 connected to the switch 41, which causes the switch 4
1 is started. This switch 41 is connected to the potentiometer 32.
33, which may be a pneumatically actuated switch connected to a separate electrical switch wired in series with 33. Generates an analog electrical signal indicating the location of the defective egg. At the same time, when either one or both of the openings 47, 48 are opened or both are closed by the operator, the switches 43, 44 are activated or not activated individually or simultaneously; The trap may or may not generate additional electrical signals to distinguish between the types of defective eggs found by the operator.

For example, if opening 48 were to be closed by the operator, air supplied through conduit 45 would no longer be able to escape through opening 48 and would create air pressure within the conduit, thereby causing switch 43 is started. A switch 43 connected to the voltage source thus generates an electrical signal distinguishing the first defect type. Similarly, if opening 47 were to be closed, switch 44 would be activated, which would generate a different electrical signal indicating a different defect type. Either one of these signals may be a digital signal representing the opening/closing conditions of the switch. If neither opening is occluded,
The absence of an electrical signal itself indicates another type of defect. Since the indicating means 13 is mounted on the frame 28 via a spring, after being engaged with a defective egg by the operator, it leaves the egg on the spool bar 12 and returns to its original position. If the cylinder 37 does not block the opening 42 and the operator removes the finger blocking the opening 47.48, the switches 41, 43.44 will not be activated and the indicating means will not be activated. It is returned to a ready state for use in locating.

Refer now to FIGS. 8 and 9. The electrical signal generated to locate the defective egg on spool bar 12 consists of a first signal generated by potentiometer 32 and representative of arctanA/H. In the above formula, H represents the vertical height of the axis 25 passing through the center of the egg placed on the spool bar, and A is when the indicating means 13 is placed in a vertical position at right angles to the spool bar 12. A first position 49 assumed by the lower end of the indicating means 13 and a second position assumed by the lower end of the indicating means 13 when the indicating means 13 is arranged to engage a defective egg on the spool bar, e.g. 50 points
, represents the horizontal distance measured along the vertical axis of the spool bar conveyor (in the direction of arrow 15 in FIG. 2).

Another electrical signal is generated by potentiometer 33 a
rc tanB/H, where H again represents the vertical height of the axis 25 passing through the center of the eggs 11 on the spool bar 12, and B represents the vertical height (second It represents the horizontal distance between the point 50 and the third point 66 in the direction of the arrow 14 in the figure. 8th
As shown in the figure, the difference created between the angle formed when the lower end of the indicating means 13 is placed directly on the spool bar 12 causes the boundaries of where the eggs are located on the conveyor to be determined.

The signals generated by the potentiometers 32, 33 and the switches 41, 43, 44 may be used to activate components of the egg sorting device, with the translucent inspection device being used in conjunction with the egg sorting device, e.g. As described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,291, buttons are used to separate defective eggs at specific locations on the egg sorting device. These signals are sent to the microprocessor to instruct means 1 regarding the spool bar conveyor.
3 is compared with a value stored in a table index in memory giving the location of each angle in relation to the various positions it assumes vertically, and depending on the result the egg sorter is activated to separate defective eggs from others. It can also be separated. For example, when the switch 41 is activated when the extension 38 of the cylinder 37 engages a defective egg, the electrical signal generated by the potentiometer 31. The various angles made in the lateral direction 14,15 are compared with voltages stored in memory representing the position of the defective egg on the spools. However, such a system is merely mentioned as a preferred example; other systems exist that use such signals to achieve selection, but are not discussed here in detail in the co-pending application. No. 394,162, "Egg Processing System".

Referring now to FIG. 10, an alternative embodiment of a pivotable indicator 13 for use in conjunction with the egg transillumination device 10 is shown. In this embodiment, the arrow points downstream and the indicating means 13 is slidably mounted within a bushing 51, said bushing being pivotally mounted on the extractor shaft 52 so that the indicating means 13 is It can move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device. Similarly to the extractor, there is another one disposed in a direction intersecting with respect to the extractor axis 52.
Two extractor shafts (not shown) support the bush 51 so that the indicating means 13 can move in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor. The vertical lower end of the indicating means 13 includes a flat member 53 and a switch button 5.
4.55 is placed. switch button 54.55
is coupled to an electrical switch (not shown) that generates an electrical signal when the switch button is pressed. Instruction means 1
The extension part 38 of 3 is similar to the push button 54.55.
The eggshells 11 on the spool bar 12 are connected to an electrical switch that generates an electrical signal when engaged.

Bush 51 also includes pins 56 extending outwardly from its surface. An oval yaw 57 is arranged by creasing the pin. The yoke is connected to the rotor 158,
The rod 58 is slidably mounted within the bushings 59 and 60 so that as the indicating means 13 pivots about the extractor shaft 52, the rod also moves. A magnetic tape recording spatula F6t is also mounted on rod 58 and engages a magnetic tape pan r62 which is driven past the recording head by a pair of pulleys 63,64. A playback head 65 is also engaged with the tape pan r at the end of the tape pan 12 opposite the pointing device 13. The recording head 61, the playback head 65, and the tape band 62 each have a number of tape recording strips mounted on the spool bar 12 corresponding to the number of columns of eggs carried through the transillumination inspection apparatus 10. A selection switch (not shown) is connected to the indicating means 13 and is actuated by cross movement of the indicating means 13 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spool bar conveyor to position the eggs engaged by the indicating means 13. Select the recording strip of the tape band that records the column of the spool bar conveyor that is running.

During operation, the indicating means 13 is controlled by the operator of the translucent inspection apparatus so that the lower end of the indicating means is connected to the spool bar 12.
The defective egg shell on top is moved to be placed on top. Once the indicating means is placed over the defective egg, the operator then moves the indicating means until the extension 38 of the indicating means engages the eggshell and is forced inwardly, activating the electrical switch associated therewith. Move axially towards the eggs. , the recording head transmits an electromagnetic signal indicating the longitudinal position of the lower end of the indicating means 13 to the tape band 6.
Record on 2. At the same time, the operator presses both or one of the pushbuttons 54 and 55 (selectively, without pressing either button) to indicate the type of defect found in the egg being treated by the indicating means. Instruct. The horizontal displacement of the yoke 57 caused by movement of the indicating means is a function of the angle made between the vertical position of the indicating means and the position at which the lower end of the indicating means is located at a distance X along the longitudinal axis of the spool bar conveyor. So, the formula arc tanX/
It becomes H. In the formula, H is the height of the extractor shaft 52 measured from the plane of the egg on the spool bar. In other words, the horizontal displacement of the yoke is directly proportional to the displacement of the vertical lower end of the indicating means 13. A selection switch connected to the indicating means 13 selects the appropriate chaff T screw rotation year for recording the signal generated by the switch connected to the extension 38.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to particularly preferred embodiments, various modifications and changes to the embodiments may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims. It goes without saying that we will not deviate from this. Accordingly, the detailed description of the invention and the drawings are not to be construed in a limiting sense;
It should be considered as illustrative.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an improved egg transillumination system constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the movable rod of the egg transillumination inspection system shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mounting structure for the movable rod shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the movable rod of the egg transillumination inspection system shown in Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the movable rod P to illustrate the use of the movable rod P to discern the location of defective eggs and the type of defects found; FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rod shown in FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the vertically downward end of the rod shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 is another vertically downward end of the rod shown in FIG. Partial vertical cross-sectional view, Figure 8 is a longitudinal schematic diagram of the various positions in which the Rotsu P can move on the spool bar during operation of the transmission inspection system, and Figure 9 is a diagram showing the operation of the transmission inspection system. FIG. 10 is a schematic lateral view of the various positions in which the rod can move on the spool bar; FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment. 10...Egg transmission inspection device, 12...Spool bar-13...Indication rotor v, 25.27...Axis,
26.28... Frame 30... Flange, 31... Coil nook, 32.33... Potentiometer, 34.35... Meshing gear, 37... Cylinder, 38... Indicator rod extension portion, 40.45
, /16... Conduit, 42.47.48... Opening, 4
1.43. 44...Switch, 51...Button 52.
... extractor shaft, 54.55 ... push button,
56... Gin, 57... Yoke, 58... Rod, 59,607'' shoe, 61... Magnetic tape recording head, 62... Magnetic tape band, 63... Gear, 65... ...Playback head. Procedural amendment (method) 1. Indication of case 1999 Patent Application No. 177871 2. Title of invention Article coded separation system, egg transmission inspection device, article coded separation method and egg transmission Method 3 of identifying defective eggs with optical inspection equipment, name related to the case of the person making the correction

Claims (36)

[Claims] (1) a conveying means for conveying a plurality of articles through an inspection area, a support means disposed above said inspection area, and pivoting in at least two directions above said conveying means within a selected area of said inspection area; an upper end pivotably mounted on said support means for movement, one of said two directions being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said conveying means; an elongated indicating means perpendicular to the
means for separating selected articles from other articles according to their coding, said indicating means having a vertical lower end disposed adjacent to the conveying means; adapted for axial movement along the longitudinal axis of the indicating means to enable the lower end of the target to enter into and out of engagement with an article to be selected passing within a selected area of the inspection area; The indicating means is further configured to include an indicating means connected to the indicating means for confirming the position of the article to be selected on the conveying means when the indicating means is engaged with the article to be selected on the conveying means. means for generating at least one first signal in response to a pivoting movement of the object for an operator to code an object to be selected from among a number of objects to be conveyed through the inspection area; Article coding separation system. (2) first shaft means, wherein said pointing means includes pivoting frame means rotatably mounted on said support means in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said conveying means and fixed on said shaft means; and a second shaft means rotatably mounted on the pivoting frame in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveying means and connected to the support means, the first and second shaft means 2. An article according to claim 1, wherein the support means is capable of pivoting movement within a selected area of the inspection area in directions parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transport means, respectively. Coding separation system. (3) said indicating means further comprises second frame means connected to said second shaft means and flange means disposed at a vertically upper end of said indicating means; 12. A spring extending through the second frame means and including a spring between said flange means and said second frame means for enabling axial reciprocating movement of said indicating means relative to said conveying means. range 2nd
Article coding separation system as described in Section. (4) wherein said indicating means comprises an elongated hollow tubular means pivotally mounted at a vertical upper end of said indicating means above said conveying means within a selected extent of said examination area; Article coding separation system according to paragraph 3. (5) The first signal generating means is configured such that H represents the vertical height of the pivot point of the indicating means measured upward from the center of the article placed on the conveying means, and A represents the vertical height of the pivot point of the indicating means. a first position of the lower vertical end of the indicating means when the indicating means is disposed perpendicularly to the conveying means; and a first position assumed by the lower vertical end of the indicating means when the indicating means is disposed in engagement with an article on the conveying means. arcta representing the horizontal distance measured along the longitudinal axis of said conveying means between the second position assumed by the lower end of arcta
means for generating an electrical signal representative of nA/H, where H represents the vertical height of the pivot point of the indicating means, measured above the center of the article placed on the conveying means;
B represents a horizontal distance measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conveying means between the first position taken by the lower end of the pointing means and the second position taken by the lower end of the pointing means; and means for generating another electrical signal representing the formula arctanB/H. 6. An article coding and separation system according to claim 5, wherein said first electrical signal generating means comprises potentiometer means connected to the vertical upper end of said indicating means. 7. The article coding and separation system of claim 6, wherein said potentiometer means comprises first and second potentiometer means coupled to said first and second shaft means. 8. An article coding and separation system according to claim 7, wherein said first and second potentiometer means are connected to said first and second shaft means by gear means. (9) said first electrical signal generating means further comprises a switch means connected to a vertical upper end of said indicating means, said switch means engaging an article conveyed by said conveying means through said inspection area; 7. An article coding and separation system according to claim 6, adapted to be suitable for. (10) An article coding and separation system according to claim 9, wherein said switch means comprises electrical switch means. (11) The article coding and separation system according to claim 10, wherein said switch means comprises an air switch means. (12) The air switch means is slidably disposed on a device for supplying pressurized air into the interior of the indicating means and at a vertical lower end of the indicating means, and cylinder means including an extension portion configured to extend from the vertical lower end of the indicating means for engaging the article to be selected disposed on the conveying means within the range; The means includes an opening means disposed at the lower vertical end of the indicating means adjacent to the cylinder means to permit air flow from the interior of the indicating means; occluding the opening means when the extension engages an article to be selected disposed on the conveyance within a selected area of the inspection area, thereby activating the air switch to 12. An article coding and separation system as claimed in claim 11, configured to generate a first electrical signal. 13. Article coding separation according to claim 12, wherein said means for generating said second signal comprises at least one manual switch means arranged towards the vertical lower end of said indicating means. system. (14) The switch means comprises an air switch means including means for delivering pressurized air to the air switch means, and the indicator means is connected to the air switch means and the indicator means is connected to the air switch means. 14. The opening means according to claim 13, further comprising opening means arranged in the indicating means towards the lower vertical end and arranged to be manually closed from the outside of the indicating means. Article coding separation system. (15) An egg transillumination inspection device for detecting defects such as blood spots, flesh spots, blemishes, cracks in the eggshells, etc. on individual eggs of a group of eggs to be processed, wherein the device aligns the eggs at intervals from each other. movable spool bar means for transporting the eggs through the transillumination apparatus in a state in which the eggs are visually inspected for defects as the eggs are conveyed through the transillumination apparatus by the spool bar means; said spool bar means and means for emitting a high intensity light below said egg to enable inspection to be carried out, the spool bar means being pivotably mounted above said spool bar means; configured to accommodate pivoting movement within a selected area of the translucent inspection device on the spool bar in mutually orthogonal directions, one of the directions being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spool bar means; The other one consists of an elongated movable pointing means perpendicular thereto, said pointing means having a vertical lower end disposed adjacent said spool bar means and said lower vertical end of said pointing means. configured for axial movement along a longitudinal axis of the indicating means to enable the indicator to enter into and out of engagement with an eggshell disposed within a selected area of the transillumination device. and said indicating means further comprises means for generating at least one first electrical signal to indicate the location of a defective egg on said spool bar means when said eggshell is engaged by said indicating means; means for generating at least one second electrical signal substantially simultaneously with the generation of said first electrical signal for distinguishing the type of defect found in said egg engaged by said indicating means. Translucent inspection equipment. (16) The indicating means is rotatably mounted to the frame means disposed above the spool bar means and to the frame means in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spool bar means, and the shaft means first shaft means including a pivotable second frame means fixedly mounted to the spool bar means; and rotatably mounted to the second frame means in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spool bar means. and a second shaft means connected to said indicating means, said first,
2. A second axis means for permitting pivoting movement of said indicating means within said selected area of said translucent inspection device in directions parallel and perpendicular, respectively, to the longitudinal axis of said spool bar means. The egg transmission inspection device according to item 15. (17) The indicating means further comprises a third frame means connected to the second shaft means, and a flange means disposed at a vertical upper end of the indicating means, and the indicating means is connected to the third frame means. Claims further comprising spring means extending through the means and disposed between said flange means and said third frame means for permitting reciprocating movement of said indicating means relative to said spool bar means. The egg transmission inspection device according to item 16. (18) said indicating means comprises an elongated hollow rod means pivotally mounted at a vertical upper end of said rod means above said spool bar means within said selected area of said transillumination inspection device; An egg transmission inspection device according to claim 17. (19) The translucent inspection device includes means for transporting a plurality of eggs through the device in a spaced array, and the eggs are conveyed through the translucent inspection device by the conveying means. means for enabling visual detection of said defects as the eggs are transported through said translucent inspection device; In an egg transmission inspection device for detecting a plurality of defects in defective eggs, the egg transmission inspection device is mounted vertically above the conveyance means and is arranged in at least two directions within a selected range of the transmission inspection device on the conveyance means. comprising an elongated movable rod means configured to be pivotable in two directions, one of said two directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said conveying means and the other perpendicular thereto; The means has a lower vertical end disposed adjacent to the conveying means, and the lower vertical end of the rod means is disposed within a selected area of the transillumination inspection device on the conveying means. The rod means is further configured to be adapted for axial movement along a longitudinal axis of the rod means to enable the eggshell to enter into and exit engagement with the shell of the egg. means for generating at least one first signal for ascertaining the position of a defective egg on said transport means when engaged by said rod means; and means for generating at least one second signal substantially simultaneously with the generation of the first signal in order to distinguish the type, and the first electric signal generating means is defined as the spool bar means. A represents the vertical height of the point at which the indicating means is pivotably mounted, measured upward from the center of the egg disposed above, and A represents the vertical height of the point at which the indicating means is pivotably mounted; a first position assumed by the lower vertical end of said pointing means when said pointing means is positioned in engagement with an egg on said spool bar means; and a second position assumed by said lower vertical end of said pointing means when said pointing means is disposed in engagement with an egg on said spool bar means. The formula ar represents the horizontal distance measured along the longitudinal axis of said spool bar means between the positions ar
means for generating an electrical signal representative of ctanA/H, where H is the vertical height of the point at which the indicating means is mounted, measured above the center of the egg disposed on the spool bar; , and B is the horizontal plane measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spool bar means between the first position of the lower end of the indicating means and the second position of the lower end of the indicating means. Expressing the distance, the formula arctanB/
An egg translucent inspection device comprising means for generating another electrical signal representative of H. (20) An egg translucency inspection apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said first electric signal generating means comprises potentiometer means connected to the vertical upper end of said indicating means. (21) the indicating means is rotatably mounted on the first frame means disposed above the spool bar means and on the frame means in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spool bar means; a first shaft means including a second pivotable frame means fixedly mounted on the shaft means and rotatably mounted on said second frame means in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said spool bar means; and a second axis means connected to said indicating means, wherein said first and second axis means are relative to a longitudinal axis of said spool bar means within a selected area of said transillumination inspection apparatus. 20. Egg translucent inspection device according to claim 19, which allows a pivoting movement of the indicating means in parallel and perpendicular directions, respectively. (22) An egg transillumination inspection apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said potentiometer means comprises first and second potentiometer means connected to said first and second shaft means. (23) An egg transmission inspection apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said first and second potentiometer means are connected to said first and second shaft means by gear means. (24) The first electrical signal generating means further comprises a switch means connected to a vertical lower end of the indicating means, the switch means passing the spool through the selected range of the translucent inspection device. 21. An egg translucent inspection device as claimed in claim 20, adapted to engage an eggshell conveyed by bar means. (25) The egg transmission inspection device according to claim 24, wherein the switch means comprises an electric switch means. (26) The egg transmission inspection device according to claim 24, wherein the switch means comprises an air switch means. (27) The air switch is slidably disposed at a vertical lower end of the indicating means and at a vertical lower end of the indicating means, and a cylinder means extending from a lower end and including an extension portion configured to engage an eggshell disposed on the spool bar means within the selected area of the transillumination device; The means includes an opening means disposed at the lower vertical end of the indicating means adjacent to the cylinder means to allow air flow from the interior of the indicating means, the cylinder means When the extension portion engages an eggshell disposed on the spool bar means within the selected area of the transillumination device, the opening means is occluded, thereby activating the air switch and causing the first 27. Egg translucency testing device according to claim 26, configured to generate an electrical signal. (28) The second electric signal generating means comprises at least one hand-operable switch means disposed toward the vertical lower end of the indicating means.
The egg transmission inspection device according to item 0. (29) said switch means comprises an air switch means including means for supplying pressurized air to said air switch means, said indicating means being connected to said air switching means and said vertically extending said indicating means; 29. The egg sieve according to claim 28, further comprising an opening means disposed in the indicating means toward the lower end of the target and configured to be manually obstructed from outside of the indicating means. Optical inspection equipment. (30) conveying a quantity of articles spaced from one another on a conveyor means through an inspection area; selecting articles to be coded while being conveyed through the inspection area; and coding. pivoting the indicating means towards the location of the article to be encoded; generating at least one first signal responsive to the angular position of the indicating means with respect to the conveying means; transporting the goods through the inspection area with a larger quantity of goods, comprising the steps of: bringing the goods into contact with an indicating means which moves to the direction of the object, thereby ascertaining the position of the goods to be coded; and separating the coded goods from the rest of the goods. A method of encoding and separating selected items. (31) generating the first signal is indicative of the angular position of the indicating means along a longitudinal axis of the conveying means and an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conveying means; 31. The method of claim 30, comprising: (32) The step of generating the first signal further comprises the step of generating a second signal that identifies a physical property of the article to be encoded substantially simultaneously with the generation of the first signal, thereby causing the article to be encoded. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the position and physical properties of the article are ascertained when the article is contacted by the indicating means. (33) conveying a plurality of eggs, including randomly distributed defective eggs, on a conveyor means in a line-up spaced apart from each other through an egg translucent inspection device; detecting the presence of a defective egg within the optical inspection device; pivotally moving an indicating means toward the location of the defective egg; and generating a first signal responsive to the angular position of the indicating means with respect to the conveyor means. A method for confirming the position of a defective egg in an egg transillumination inspection device, comprising the steps of: bringing the defective egg into contact with an indicating means that moves in a rotational manner, thereby confirming the position of the defective egg. 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of generating at least one second signal that identifies the type of defect in the defective egg substantially simultaneously with the step of generating the first signal. (35) The step of generating the first signal and the second signal generates a first electric signal and a second electric signal indicating the position of the defective egg in the translucent inspection device and the type of defect in the defective egg, respectively. 35. The method of claim 34, comprising the steps of generating. (36) The indicating means is configured to be pivoted above the spool bar conveying means, and the first signal generating step is configured to move between a first position as a vertical position of the indicating means and a vertical position of the indicating means. an electrical signal representing an angle formed between the lower end and a second position of the indicating means along the longitudinal axis of the spool bar transport means when the lower end is positioned in engagement with the egg on the spool bar transport means; and an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spool bar conveying means when the first position of the indicating means and the vertical lower end of the indicating means are disposed in engagement with the egg on the spool bar conveying means. 36. A method as claimed in claim 35, comprising the step of generating another electrical signal representing an angle formed between the second position and the second position assumed by the indicating means laterally along.